Friendship Park in Wheeling, Illinois, Welcomes Santa to Kick Off the Holiday Season! by Mike Prochaska

Santa comes to Friendship Park in Wheeling, Ill., on Sunday, November 19, at 4:30! Friendship Park is located at the northeast corner of Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue. Wheeling will start off the holiday season with the arrival of Santa, who turns on the Christmas lights on the fountain at Friendship Park. My kids love this fountain. We drive by it every day and my children are always asking me when they are going to turn on the Christmas lights. It doesn’t matter what month it is, so I am grateful they will get turned on Sunday! Stop by for some hot cocoa, visit with Santa and experience the beautiful lights to mark the beginning of the holiday season. 

Last year, a small group of band players from Wheeling High School played music while the crowd huddled around the gazebo waiting for Santa to arrive – it was cold last year! My kids were drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies courtesy of Market Square Restaurant, which is my kids’ favorite place to eat! They ask to go there every time we drive past. Some children danced to the music and my children loved taking their pictures with Santa. Santa always gives them a goody bag full of special treats from the North Pole to take home, which is my son’s favorite part because he loves getting new “treasures.”

So, if you happen to be in the area come out and visit Santa and get in the holiday spirit.

Photo: Foursquare.com